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(No Model.)

F. W. GROOKER.

BUSTLE.

No. 318,599. Patented May 26, 1885.

WYTNESSES INVENTOR Q W Fl'aiera'ck yfivcfl'a' a. virus,Fhnlo-Lhhognpher. Washington. o.c.

ilnrren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. CROOKER, OF MACEDON, NEW YORK.

' BUSTLE.

SPEGEFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,599, dated IMay 26,1885.

Application filed March 20, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. ORocK- ER, of Macedon, county ofIVayne, Slate of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBustlcs, of which the following is a description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings to more clearly set forth the same.

The invention consists in the construction of a bustle in such a mannerthat the same is more comfortable and will not be subject todisplacement when it comes in contact with an object, such as a chairback or arm.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View. Fig. 2 is asectional View taken on line 00 00, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a perspectiveView. I

A is the belt; B, the first or upper leaf, which is made, as shown inFig. 2, of a piece of cloth folded upon itself, the lower edge of whichis provided with pockets--two on each side of the center-said pocketsbeing formed into rolls by being filled with any suitable elasticmaterial,such as hair; or a coiled spring may be used, that portion ofthe cloth between the pockets forming the flexible hinge a.

O is the second leaf, which is attached to the belt in such a mannerthat the lower edge, which contains pockets formed into rolls, asdescribed, will come below the pockets or rolls in the upper leaf, B,the space between the two end pockets and the center pocket formingflexible hinges b, so situated that neither come in line with theflexible hinge a in leaf B.

D is the lower leaf, the edge of which is attached to the belt in such amanner that the lower edge, which contains the pockets or rolls, formedas described, will come below the pockets in leaf 0, the space betweenthe pockets forming the flexible hinge c. The two upper leaves are sewedto the lower one by rows of stitching d above the pockets, therebygiving to the bustle shape and solidity. Each leaf at its sides, whereattached to the belt, is provided. with a fullness or slack, F, so thatwhen a pressure is brought to bear against the bustle at its side orbottom the same will extend or straighten, and, in connection with thehinge or hinges in each leaf, will cause that half of the bustle uponwhich pressure is exerted to yield, the hinge or hinges bending orfolding upon themselves without moving the other half or displacing thesame or bringing any undue strain on the belt. The flexible hinges inthe several leaves are so arranged that they break joints, therebygiving solidity and flexibility at the same time.

As a modification of my invention theleaves of the bustle can be made bycontinuing the material of which each leaf consists over on the back farenough to make the pockets and give stability to the same, by whichconstruction a considerable saving of material is se cured.

The number of leaves may be varied.

The back of the bustle can be contracted in the well-known manner oflacing with elastic cord and eyelets.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a bustlethe leaves of which are arranged one above the other, provided withpadded pockets and flexi ble hinges between the padded pockets, for thepurpose shown and described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a bustle the leaves of which arearranged one above the other, with padded pockets, with flexible hingesbetween the padded pockets, and having a fullness or slack at thejunction of each leaf with the belt, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a bustle the leaves of which arearranged one above the other, with padded pockets, with flexible hingesbetween the pockets so arranged as to break joints, and having afullness or slack at thejunction of each leaf with the belt, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a bustle, the combination of the belt with several series ofpadded pockets provided with flexible hinges between the padded pockets,each series being provided with a fullness or slack where joined to thebelt, substantially as shown and described.

FREDERICK IV. GBOOKER.

WVitnesses:

XV. E. SrEARNs, H. C. HUNTEMANN.

